Patterns of alkaline phosphatase activity during alternative developmental pathways in the cellular slime mold, Polysphondylium pallidum

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The enzyme alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) was studied during axenic growth, microcyst differentiation and fruiting body formation in the cellular slime mold Polysphondylium pallidum. The enzyme activity decreases during growth and microcyst differentiation but increases during fruiting body formation where it is localized in prestalk cells. Two major isozymes exist for the enzyme and these change qualitatively and quantitatively during multicellular development. Beryllium was found to be a potent inhibitor of the slime mold phosphatase. When beryllium was added to growing cells or cells undergoing fruiting body formation markedly reduced alkaline phosphatase activity was detectable in the cells but growth and development were unaffected. The results are discussed in relation to other work on the cellular slime molds.